Carbon nano tube Litz wire for low loss inductors and resonators

Abstract

An upper frequency-range circuit ( 160 ) includes a load element ( 168 ) exhibiting a capacitive load impedance. A first matching network ( 166 ) includes at least one nano-scale Litz wire ( 100 ) inductor. The first matching network ( 166 ) exhibits an inductive impedance that nominally matches the capacitive load impedance. An electrical conductor for providing connections for radio-frequency signals includes a plurality of nano-scale conductors ( 120 ) that are arranged in the form of a Litz wire ( 100 ). In one method of making a Litz wire ( 142 ), a plurality of carbon nanotubes ( 144 ) is placed on a substrate ( 146 ). The carbon nanotubes ( 144 ) are woven according to a predefined scheme so as to form a Litz wire ( 142 ). An inductor may be formed by manipulating the Litz wire ( 100 ) to form a coil ( 150 ).

1. An electrical conductor for providing connections for radio-frequency signals, comprising:
 (a) a first plurality of individual nano scale conductors that have been helically interwoven so as to form a first primary strand; 
 (b) a second plurality of individual nano scale conductors that have been helically interwoven so as to form a second primary strand; and 
 (c) at least a third plurality of individual nano scale conductors that have been helically interwoven so as to form a third primary strand,
 wherein the first primary strand, the second primary strand and the third primary strand are interwoven so as to form a Litz wire. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The conductor of  claim 1 , wherein the nano-scale conductors comprise carbon nanotubes. 
     
     
       3. The conductor of  claim 2 , wherein the carbon nanotubes comprise single-walled nanotubes. 
     
     
       4. The conductor of  claim 2 , wherein the carbon nanotubes comprise multi-walled nanotubes. 
     
     
       5. The conductor of  claim 1 , wherein the nano-scale conductors comprise metal oxide nanorods. 
     
     
       6. The conductor of  claim 1 , wherein the Litz wire is formed into a coil. 
     
     
       7. An inductor comprising:
 (a) a first plurality of individual nano scale conductors that have been interwoven so as to form a first primary strand; 
 (b) a second plurality of individual nano scale conductors that have been interwoven so as to form a second primary strand; and 
 (c) at least a third plurality of individual nano scale conductors that have been interwoven so as to form a third primary strand, 
 wherein the first primary strand, the second primary strand and the third primary strand are interwoven so as to form a Litz wire and wherein the Litz wire is formed as a coil. 
 
     
     
       8. The inductor of  claim 7 , wherein the Litz wire comprises a helically woven Litz wire. 
     
     
       9. The inductor of  claim 7 , wherein the Litz wire comprises a rectangular woven Litz wire. 
     
     
       10. The inductor of  claim 7 , wherein the carbon nanotubes comprise single-walled nanotubes. 
     
     
       11. The inductor of  claim 7 , wherein the carbon nanotubes comprise multi-walled nanotubes. 
     
     
       12. A method of making a conductor for transmitting radio-frequency signals, comprising the steps of:
 (a) placing a plurality of carbon nanotubes on a substrate; and 
 (b) interweaving a first plurality of individual nano scale conductors into a first primary strand; 
 (c) interweaving a second plurality of individual nano scale conductors into a second primary strand; 
 (d) interweaving a third plurality of individual nano scale conductors into a third primary strand; and 
 (e) interweaving the first primary strand, the second primary strand and the third primary strand so as to form a Litz wire into a Litz wire. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the weaving step is accomplished by moving the carbon nanotubes with a probe tip at the end of a cantilever. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the step of forming the Litz wire into a coil.